Cooperation between China and the Caribbean in trade, investment, agriculture and fisheries, transport, tourism, finance, and human resource development will be the focus of a joint economic forum in China early next month.

Senior Chinese and Caribbean government ministers, officials, trade and investment promotion agencies, entrepreneurs and regional organisations are expected to attend the Second China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Xiamen, China, from September 7 to 10.

Following the opening ceremony of the Forum, which has the theme “Promote Economic and Trade Cooperation for Common Development”, a plenary session will be held at the ministerial level. 
Private sector delegates are to attend the China-Caribbean business session, the annual conference of the China-Caribbean Joint Business Council, a one-on-one business match-making programme and cooperation seminars in investment and trade, and agriculture and fisheries.

During the Forum, the Caribbean countries and China are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Two-Way Investment Promotion Cooperation, which is intended to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment cooperation between the two regions.

Parallel to the 2007 Forum will be the 11th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), also to be held at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Centre from September 8 to 11.

The CIFIT promotes international trade, cooperation and investment through trade fairs, talks on investment projects, discussion fora and consultations.

China’s Ministry of Commerce sponsors the CIFIT along with co-sponsors from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, among others.
A Barbados delegation is expected to attend both the Forum and the Fair in China.

At the first Forum in 2005 in Jamaica, Barbados signed several agreements with China. One such agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding which designated Barbados as an approved destination for Chinese group travel and tours.

Both countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Facilitating the Establishment of Air Services. Barbados also joined other Caribbean countries in signing the Guiding Framework of Economic Trade Cooperation for the Forum.

Pin It on Pinterest